Letters to the Editor: Private or public?, Too young for a cell phone

Private or public?

Women are forced to either go to a bathroom stall or cover themselves when it comes to breastfeeding their child. It’s not OK for people to complain about a woman feeding her child in public.

Women should feel comfortable to breastfeed no matter where they are. I find it unfair how women get told to either go to the restroom or cover themselves.

For example, I was at a local restaurant with my cousin and an elderly woman was giving my cousin an ugly face expression because she was breastfeeding while enjoying her meal.

Furthermore, It’s disappointing how men find it attractive for women to expose themselves on social media, but when it comes to a mother feeding her child in public it’s “disgusting.”

Social media sites will flag and censor your breastfeeding picture as pornographic. If this is to change, it would help to be portrayed positively by the media.

Women shouldn’t have to feel unwelcome and judged by other people when they need to feed their child. After all, it’s against the law. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, “If someone criticizes you for breastfeeding in public, remember that the law protects your right to feed your baby any place you need to …”

It is important to know your rights and feel comfortable when taking care of your child.

Erika Adame

Santa Maria

Too young for a cell phone

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Young teenagers should not have unlimited cell phone usage because they are becoming too dependent on and are easily distracted by them. Nowadays many teens are exhibiting cell phone addiction. Cell phones are good contact devices, but now they have distracting applications.

Teens are becoming dependent on cell phones, which doesn’t allow them to use their brains to figure things out. The majority of teenagers may not realize they have become lazy when it comes to spelling because they rely on short cuts, which could lead to poor grades.

Many teens are so distracted by their cell phones that they neglect things that are more important. In addition, many social media sites are inappropriate. For example, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are not always appropriate for young teenagers to be viewing due to video violence. Such social media sites also make it easier for predators to prey on young teenagers.

In addition, bullies torment others through social media or text messages and a teenager's health is in danger from too much cell phone usage, as they struggle from depression and lack of face to face interaction with others their own age. Isolation from the real world can cause problems as they grow into adults.

Young teenagers often also use their cell phones late at night, which can deprive them of sleep. Most importantly, young teenagers should not have phones until they are older because teenagers are at a higher risk of texting while driving. They are not experienced drivers and distracting cell phones are tempting at stop signs, red lights, and even while driving, which could cause a serious accident, injury, or death. In conclusion, many young teenagers are not quite ready for cell phone freedom.